On this day in 1723 George Watson passed away in Edinburgh.
Watson was a Scottish accountant and philanthropist. He was the Bank of Scotland's first Chief Accountant. He bequeathed money that was used to establish George Watson's College and fund George Heriot's School in Edinburgh.
Watson was born in Edinburgh on 12 November 1654, the eldest son of Marion Ewing (d.1697) and John Watson, a merchant. After the death of his father and the remarriage of his mother, Watson and his brother James were brought up by their aunt Elizabeth Davidson. In 1672 he went to Rotterdam to be educated in book-keeping. He returned to Edinburgh to become, in 1676, the private secretary to Sir James Dick. Based partly on this experience he became one of a famed accountant and was appointed chief accountant to the Bank of Scotland
Watson had an investment in a English ship that was allegedly used in the slave trade. There have been calls to change the name of the school named after him, which the school has rejected.
Watson was a Scottish accountant and philanthropist. He was the Bank of Scotland's first Chief Accountant. He bequeathed money that was used to establish George Watson's College and fund George Heriot's School in Edinburgh.
Watson was born in Edinburgh on 12 November 1654, the eldest son of Marion Ewing (d.1697) and John Watson, a merchant. After the death of his father and the remarriage of his mother, Watson and his brother James were brought up by their aunt Elizabeth Davidson. In 1672 he went to Rotterdam to be educated in book-keeping. He returned to Edinburgh to become, in 1676, the private secretary to Sir James Dick. Based partly on this experience he became one of a famed accountant and was appointed chief accountant to the Bank of Scotland
Watson had an investment in a English ship that was allegedly used in the slave trade. There have been calls to change the name of the school named after him, which the school has rejected.